Smith



C. R. GOLDSMITH.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILED AFR. H 1918 Patented May 20, 1919.

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CHARLES R. GOLDSMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed April 11, 1918. Serial No. 227,890.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. Gonn- SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mats or runners of the sanitary type, i. 6., those composed of a series of intercomiected sections with spaces therebetween.

The sections in this type of mat usually consist of superposed scalloped leather plates or layers strung on a frame of wire or the like, the end plates of one section abutting against the end plates of an adjacent section whereby the several parts of the mat are held in position. It is found in practice that certain plates or layers wear more quickly than others, and when the plate of one section wears the size of that section is reduced and its unity is disturbed, so that its capacity to hold adjacent sections in proper position becomes less. As a consequence, the sections become loose on the frames, and the mat as a whole warps and its efiiciency and appearance are detrimentally affected.

The principal object of my invention is to remedy the condition above pointed out, and I accomplish this object by forming each section of the mat as an entity, distinct from the other sections, and then assembling such entities or units to form the complete mat. More specifically stated, I superimpose the proper number of layers or plates of leather to form a section, then compactly unite these layers, and after the requisite sections are thus formed assemble the several sections into a mat. This manner of producing the mat entails considerable advantage in manufacture, inasmuch as the formation of the individual sections may be quickly and cheaply effected by machine, and the assembling of the sections on their frames may also be quickly done.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have appended hereto a sheet of drawing in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of a mat embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an intermediate section or unit;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of an end section; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a wire frame upon which the sections are secured.

It will be understood that the mat or runner may be of any desired practicable length and width, and that the sections may be madeof any desired material, although it is the general practice to make the sections of leather.

Referring to Fig. 3, showing one of the intermediate sections, 10 denotes the several layers of leather which are arranged in superimposed, carefully alined, position to form the intermediate sections of the mat. Each layer 10 has its periphery scalloped, the projections and indentations of the several layers being in line. The feature which constitutes my invention, consists in connecting these several layers together so as to form a .unit, and the preferred manner of connection is shown in Fig. 3 wherein hollow rivets 11 are disclosed at opposite ends of the unit. The rivets pass entirely through the several layers 10 and their opposite ends are upset against the outer faces of the end layers 10 whereby the series of layers is tightly clamped together.

In Fig. 4 I show what may be termed one of the end sections consisting of a series of perforated disks 12 through which the hollow rivet 11 is passed, the ends of which are upset against the outer faces of the opposite end disks 12. The end section of Fig. 4 is like the intermediate section of Fig. 3 except that it differs therefrom in shape.

The completed mat consists of a plurality of interconnected end sections and intermediate sections which are held upon the frame of Fig. 5 comprising the parallel elongated arms 13, the integral end arm or strand 14, and the end arms 15 which may be secured together by a sleeve 16. A plate 17 is slidable upon the arms 13 and is interposed between the head l l-and the outer face of the intermediate sections as shown more fully in Fig. 1.

The assemblage of the parts which constitute my improved mat may be likened to the simple action of stringing beads, and for that reason an unskilled, inexperienced operator can quickly and accurately make the mats when the intermediate and end sections are supplied to be placed on the frame of Fig. 5.

'It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the structure is such that metal is juxtaposed to metal inasmuch as the upset ends of the rivets in one section rest upon and engage the opposite ends of the rivets in an adjacent section. There is thus in effect a continuous hollow metal cylinder Which prevents any of the disks 10 or 12 from Working loose and also considerably reduces the likelihood of these disks being damaged in use.

lVhat I claim is 1. A mat of the character described, comprising a plurality of units each consisting of superposed plates or disks having perforations near their opposite ends, hollow fastening means passing through said perforations and securing the plates or disks of each unit together independently of the plates or disks of any other units, and elongated connecting means passing through the hollow fastening means of a series of units to connect the latter together.

2. A mat of the character described, com prising a plurality of units each consisting 2 of superposed plates or disks having perforations near their opposite ends, hollow rivets passing through said perforations and having their opposite ends upset against the outer faces of the end plates or disks where- 30 by the plates or disks of each unit are secured together independently of the plates or disks of any other units, and a Wire passing through the hollow rivets of a plurality of units to connect the latter together. 35

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES R. GOLDSMITH.

Witnesses A. NAGEN, L. SCHEARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patentl. Washington, D. C. 

